Written Answers Wednesday 24 October 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) since 4 May 2007 to discuss the implications for single farm payments of SNH management agreements and what decisions were reached as a result of such meetings.

Michael Russell: There have been no meetings between Scottish ministers and Scottish Natural Heritage since 4 May 2007 regarding the implications for single farm payments of SNH management agreements. SNH have had a number of conversations with my officials about this difficult issue, and have recently written to them about it. I will take advice on this shortly with a view to reaching a final conclusion.

Agriculture

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion it has to make direct payments to farmers and crofters for positive environmental management on their holdings, outside the constraints of the single farm payment and rural development regulations.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion it has to fund government agencies, non-departmental public bodies and non-governmental organisations in order for them to make payments to farmers and crofters for positive environmental management on their holdings, outside the constraints of the single farm payment and rural development regulations.

Richard Lochhead: Any such scheme would have to comply with the European Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agriculture and Forestry Sector 2006/C319/01 and would be subject to lengthy and potentially complex EU State Aid notification procedures.

Concessionary Travel

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which categories of people qualify for concessionary travel on Caledonian MacBrayne ferries.

Stewart Stevenson: The categories of people who qualify for concessionary travel on CalMac Ferries Limited’s services are as follows:

  blind people;

  children, and

  disabled people.

  people holding:

  Some categories of British Rail Identity and Travel Facility Cards;

  Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar travel scheme concession cards;

  former Scottish Transport Group privilege passes;

  some categories of former British Rail active and retired employee passes;

  Highland Council Travel Scheme Cards;

  National Entitlement Cards who are resident in designated island areas;

  Strathclyde Partnership for Transport concessionary travel scheme cards;

  people purchasing return tickets for journeys originating at certain island ports;

  young people eligible for the Scottish Government Young Persons Travel Scheme, and

  Staff of CalMac Ferries Ltd and some associated companies and their dependents.

  A number of the concessions apply only to specified routes and/or to particular ticket types (e.g. passenger only, not vehicles). In addition, some concessions are restricted to a designated number of journeys in the course of a year.

  In addition CalMac Ferries Ltd offers discounted rates on Island Hopscotch, Island Rover, multi-journey, Freedom of Scotland and group tickets, as well as on through tickets for rail and ferry journeys. These are available to all travellers.

Crime

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour in Edinburgh.

Fergus Ewing: Reducing alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour is a key priority for this Government. We are funding local agencies in Edinburgh to provide a range of services aimed at delivering this outcome.

Culture

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to facilitate an increase in attendance by ethnic minority groups at cultural events.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen and the National Collections, like other public bodies, are under a legal duty to promote race equality, and following a duty placed on them by the Scottish Government last year, are each due to publish race equality schemes by 30 November 2007 setting out how they are meeting this duty.

  In response to our encouragement the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen and the National Collections have taken action to encourage attendance at cultural events by a range of under-represented sections of society in Scotland, with a particular focus on minority ethnic communities. Scottish Screen in particular has demonstrated this through actions such as their support for the "CinemaChina" film festival, the Pakistani Film, Media and Arts Festival, and "Trouble Sleeping", a new talent development initiative, working on a project involving asylum seekers in Glasgow.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors impact on attainment in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: Improving Scottish Education , published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in November 2006, identified the attainment of pupils from P1 to P4 as a key strength of the primary sector. We also know from the Scottish Survey of Achievement that attainment of pupils in P3 is strong. Inspection evidence has identified a number of factors in school which contribute to the quality of pupils’ attainment. Factors which contribute significantly include the quality of teaching and the quality of pupils’ learning experiences. Also, where staff provide a supportive climate for learning, demonstrate high expectations of pupils’ achievement and establish positive relationships with pupils, inspectors have found important benefits in terms of pupils’ attainment.

  There is also research evidence to suggest that children in the early years can benefit from smaller class sizes. Other factors outwith the school such as the child’s pre-school experience and the influence and involvement of the home will also impact on the children’s ability to do well.

  If Scotland is to be the best it can be in the 21st century, we need children and young people who are effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals as well as successful learners. The primary sector is well placed to make the values, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence a reality for Scotland’s children. The recently published draft outcomes will raise the level of expectation for attainment and achievement.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence that smaller class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 raise attainment levels in P1 to P3 classes with existing high levels of attainment.

Maureen Watt: There is research evidence to suggest class size reductions in early years benefit children of all abilities, though the benefits are most marked in deprived communities and where class structure is not disrupted between years.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1741 by Fiona Hyslop on 1 August 2007, what proportion of primary schools in the 75% to 90% occupancy category are in areas of deprivation.

Maureen Watt: 7.1% of primary schools in the 75% to 90% occupancy category are located in the 15% most deprived data zones in Scotland, as reported in the 2006 Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Pupils attending these schools may of course come from outwith these areas.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £40 million for new school buildings will be allocated to each local authority to reduce class sizes in areas of deprivation.

Maureen Watt: The allocation of this £40 million was explained in a letter to local authorities of 10 July 2007. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43795). The detail of local spending decisions within the amounts allocated are entirely matters for each local authority to determine.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 50 highest attaining primary schools.

Maureen Watt: No. This information is not collected. The principal central source of evidence about the quality of attainment in individual Scottish primary schools is gathered through Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education inspection reports. The proportion of schools inspected in any one year does not allow for rank ordering of all primary schools in Scotland, nor would it be appropriate to do so.

Emergency Services

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the standard definition is of an accident and emergency unit; what minimum level of service constitutes such a unit, and whether it will provide a detailed description of these services.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what minimum level of consultant cover is required for an accident and emergency department.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1520 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plan or process has been put in place to ensure that Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local enterprise companies contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in pursuance of section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and further the conservation and enhancement of natural features specified in sites of special scientific interest under section 12 of the act.

Michael Russell: All public bodies in Scotland are subject to a duty under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further biodiversity conservation in carrying out their functions. The Scottish Government produced guidance in 2005 to promote the duty and to encourage its implementation. The guidance can be accessed at:  http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/pageType2.php?id=19&type=2&navID=59 .

  The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 Act also requires public bodies to consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in relation to the exercise of any function on, or affecting, any land which is or forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Public bodies must have regard to any advice received from SNH as a result of such consultation.

  It is for each public body to decide how to comply with the requirements in the 2004 act.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is for the use of Alfamax on fish farm sites and whether it proposes to amend the policy in light of the treatment having successfully passed the requirements of the EU’s mutual recognition system for medicines used in EU waters.

Richard Lochhead: The regulation of veterinary medicines is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

  Scottish Government policy is supportive of the use of the sea lice medicine Alphamax once marketing authorisation in the UK has been granted. The treatment has recently been granted a full marketing authorisation in Norway, which is an essential first step in applying for mutual recognition in the UK.

  It is up to the company concerned to submit an application for mutual recognition to the VMD and we have encouraged them to do so.

Flood Prevention

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the impact of large wind farm developments is taken into account in the planning of upstream flood alleviation schemes.

Michael Russell: Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, flood prevention schemes follow a statutory procedure under which schemes are brought forward by the local authority, advertised and submitted to Scottish ministers for confirmation. Flood Prevention Schemes are subject to the Scottish Government’s environmental, economic and technical criteria.

  Each Flood Prevention Scheme is also subject to public scrutiny under statutory planning procedures. It is for the planning authority to determine planning applications in its administrative area taking account of all relevant factors, including policies contained in the development plan, national and Scottish planning policy guidance, other specific material considerations which may include issues such as flooding and representations received.

Flood Prevention

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that developments along the River Clyde include proper precautions and protection against flooding and that developers co-ordinate with local government and the Scottish Government to minimise the risk of flooding along the river.

Stewart Stevenson: Statutory provisions are in place so that if a proposed development is likely to result in an increase in the number of buildings at risk of being damaged by flooding the planning authority have to consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before granting planning permission. If SEPA advise against planning permission but the planning authority wishes to approve or recommends conditions which the authority does not intend to apply, they are required to notify the application to the Scottish ministers who may call it in for their own decision.

  National guidance on addressing flood risk is set out in Scottish Planning Policy 7 – Planning and Flooding and Planning Advice Note 69 – Planning and Building standards Advice on Flooding.

Flood Prevention

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that Glasgow is protected against flooding, broken down by area at serious risk of flooding.

Michael Russell: Local authorities have powers under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 to mitigate the flooding of non-agricultural land in their area. It is entirely a matter for Glasgow City Council to determine, whether and to what extent, to exercise their powers.

  The Executive announced on 10 October further funding for the White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme, which will protect some 1,750 properties and businesses in Glasgow.

Foster Care

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-484 by Adam Ingram on 15 June 2007, what progress it is making with its strategy for fostering and kinship care and when it expects to publish the strategy.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-484 on 15 June 2007. I intend to publish the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy by the end of this year.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Further and Higher Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the number of students entering higher education from areas of multiple deprivation.

Fiona Hyslop: Information on Scottish domiciled higher education entrants is taken from the student records collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency for higher education institutions and by the Scottish Funding Council for higher education students in colleges. This information includes the postcode of the pre-study address.

  The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is used to identify the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland. More information is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/Overview.

  The SIMD was first calculated in 2004 and updated in 2006. The 2004 SIMD was used for students entering higher education in 2002-03 to 2004-05, the 2006 index was used for students entering higher education in 2005-06.

Further and Higher Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from areas of multiple deprivation have entered higher education in each year since 1999.

Fiona Hyslop: The table below shows the number of Scottish domiciled entrants to higher education in the UK from the 20% most deprived areas: 2002-03 to 2005-06:

  All UK Institutions

  

 Year
 HE Entrants from the 20% Most Deprived Areas in Scotland


 2002-03
 15,340


 2003-04
 15,730


 2004-05
 16,505


 2005-06
 16,560



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Funding Council.

  Notes:

  1. Figures in this table have been rounded to the nearest five. 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0.

  2. Figures may not sum exactly to totals due to rounding. Institutions included are UK Universities, Scottish Colleges and the Open University.

  The 20% most deprived areas have been identified using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. This index was first calculated in 2004 and as deprivation changes over time data on entrants prior to 2002-03 has not been provided.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional (a) financial and (b) professional support it will give to muscular dystrophy sufferers in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are expected to provide such services and support from their general allocations.

  I understand that NHS Lanarkshire works closely with the Scottish Muscle Network to ensure that those suffering from muscular dystrophy, and their families, receive a co-ordinated approach to their care. Inter-agency working in this area is on-going and the board is currently working with the network on the development of an integrated care pathway.

  Specialist services, including specialist physiotherapy services, for NHS Lanarkshire residents are provided by Yorkhill Hospital during the paediatric stages and into the early teenage years. Knowing that the transition from paediatric to adult services is an anxious time for patients and their families, the board makes every effort to ensure that GPs, the district nursing service and other agencies involved link with the patient, their families and specialist services to prepare for this transition. Individual needs, including those of the carer, are assessed and reviewed to ensure holistic care is provided and that on-going care is co-ordinated and responsive to need.

  NHS Lanarkshire believes that its commitment to the management of long-term conditions will ensure the needs of people with muscular dystrophy and their carers are met.

Historic Sites

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive under which Historic Scotland budget line its contribution to the purchase of Dumfries House will be allocated.

Linda Fabiani: The contribution to the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust for the purchase of Dumfries House will be allocated to the grants line in the accounts of Historic Scotland.

Historic Sites

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional funding to Historic Scotland to protect historic sites from the effects of climate change.

Linda Fabiani: We will determine future funding priorities in the context of the Scottish Government’s Spending Review and Historic Scotland’s forthcoming Corporate Plan for 2008-11.

Justice

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to provide funding for the Intensive Support and Monitoring Service in the Highlands after March 2008, in light of the reduction in the number of persistent offenders in the region over the last two years.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Intensive Support and Monitoring Scheme, which is due to be completed shortly. Ministers will consider the evaluation and its implications for current arrangements to support and manage high-risk young people. The level of future funding for this work is being considered as part of the 2007 spending review.

Ministerial Correspondence

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment will reply to my letter of 30 May 2007 regarding single farm payments, acknowledged by its correspondence unit on 4 June, reference 2007/0019209.

Michael Russell: I refer Mr McArthur to my letter dated 4 October 2007.

NHS Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of cost inflation in the NHS.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made in relation to cost inflation in the NHS in respect of (a) wages and salaries, (b) administration costs and (c) pharmaceutical costs.

Nicola Sturgeon: In line with the HM Treasury forecast of the GDP deflator, the Scottish Government is using 2.7% as an estimate of average annual cost inflation across the full NHS resource budget.

NHS Finance

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial costs have been incurred by NHS Ayrshire and Arran in bringing forward its proposals for the new review of services.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran estimate the additional costs to be in the region of £100,000.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether allied health professionals who are paid different rates for doing the same job are entitled to equal pay for equal work under existing legislation.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and this underpins the new Agenda for Change pay system.

  All parties to the agreement in Scotland have taken the view that consistency and accuracy are central to the effective implementation of Agenda for Change. This is reflected in the job evaluation scheme which has been designed to be very deliberate, robust and rigorous in its assessment of pay. Added to this is a two stage checking process where job evaluation outcomes are considered at both a local and national level. These processes were agreed and taken forward in partnership with trade unions and professional organisations.

  The Agenda for Change job evaluation system is designed to assess the tasks undertaken in a particular job and the skills and knowledge required to carry out those tasks to an acceptable level. In the past job titles were in some circumstances used quite generically, and did not necessarily reflect key differences in the work which was being undertaken by individuals. Therefore under Agenda for Change job evaluation, staff who were previously working under the same job title may not necessarily come out to the same band once they have been through the job evaluation process.

  In circumstances where staff feel that the job evaluation system has assessed them incorrectly, they can request a review of the outcome. The review process is conducted in partnership, and is undertaken by fully trained job evaluators who have had no involvement in the original assessment.

NHS Staff

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally. Each NHS board holds employment details for its own staff.

NHS Waiting Times

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish on a weekly basis the cancer waiting times statistics that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing receives from each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is unvalidated data for the purposes of operational management. There are no plans to publish these data.

  NHS board performance is measured by validated data published quarterly and available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/waiting-times.

Olympic Games

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the impact on Scotland of the 2012 London Olympics.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that all major sporting events, including the 2012 games, can provide an opportunity to increase sports participation in Scotland and inspire people to become involved in sport in many ways. We are confident that top Scottish athletes competing in the Olympic Games will inspire a generation of young people throughout Scotland to get involved in sport and benefit from the lifelong rewards of a healthy and active lifestyle.

  We must be realistic about the potential benefits from the games but at the same time continue to work hard to secure opportunities and benefits for different sectors across Scotland.

  However, we must ensure that opportunities presented by the Olympic and Paralympic Games are not at the detriment of funding to Scottish sports. The Scottish Government strongly opposes the diversion of monies from the National Lottery good causes and have asked the UK Government to look seriously at other funding streams for the additional costs of the games.

  The loss of lottery funding to good causes in Scotland as a result of the Games will be approximately £150 million, £13 million from sport.

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts, broken down by (i) force and (ii) rank.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Police

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number was of police officers in employment from 1 January to 3 May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Data on police numbers is collated on a quarterly basis. For the period ending 31 March 2007 there were 16,234 police officers (whole-time equivalents) and for the period ending 30 June 2007 there were 16,265 police officers (whole-time equivalents).

Pre-School Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of men working in pre-school education and childcare.

Adam Ingram: It is for pre-school education and child care providers to make sure that their workforce is diverse and representative of the Scottish population and, in line with equality legislation, to ensure that employment practices are not discriminatory.

  However, recognising the challenges in early education and childcare, the Scottish Government jointly funds a project called "Men in Childcare". This project has helped hundreds of men into accredited training in pre-school education and child care, providing them with the skills and qualifications to enter the workforce.

  A Scottish Government working group is currently looking at what can be done to tackle the causes of gender imbalances in the workplace. It will report to ministers in 2008.

Renewable Energy

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will grant permitted development rights for domestic micro wind turbines.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government intends to consult on permitted development rights for domestic micro wind turbines.

Road Safety

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of accidents on those parts of the A77 currently covered by the SPECS safety camera system have involved motorcycles in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The table below shows the percentage of accidents in the last five years on that section of the A77 trunk road covered by the SPECS system which have involved motorcycles.

  

 
 1 August 2002 to 31 July 2003
 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2004
 1 August 2004 to 31 July 2005
 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006
 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2007


 Percentage of accidents involving motorcycles
5.3
3.6
10.5
21.9
6.4



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Road Safety

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents on those parts of the A77 currently covered by the SPECS safety camera system have involved motorcycles in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The table below shows the number of accidents in the last five years on that section of the A77 trunk road covered by the SPECS system which have involved motorcycles.

  

 
 1 August 2002 to 31 July 2003
 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2004
 1 August 2004 to 31 July 2005
 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006
 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2007


 Number of accidents involving motorcycles
3
2
6
9
3



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Road Safety

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next review the effectiveness of the SPECS speed camera system operating on the A77.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently collating the accident and speed data for the first two years operation of the SPECS average speed camera system. The effectiveness of the SPECS system will be fully assessed after three years of operation in late 2008.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Road Safety

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future review of the SPECS speed camera system operating on the A77 will consider whether changes need to be made to the system to identify speeding motorcycles.

Stewart Stevenson: The issue of identification of speeding motorcyclists will be considered as part of the SPECS review.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor the effectiveness of legislation to tackle sectarianism.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of religious discrimination including sectarianism. We will continue to analyse information on religiously aggravated crimes collected under Section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, and have established a monitoring group of key partners to assess the effectiveness of Football Banning Orders which were introduced as part of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. In addition, we will gather information on the new procedures for marches and parades which were also introduced through the 2006 act.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations the Minister for Community Safety intends to meet to discuss on-going and new initiatives to tackle sectarianism.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has on-going discussions with a range of stakeholders on work to tackle sectarianism and I have already met with representatives from across Scottish faith communities and those working in education. It is my intention to continue this positive engagement and ensure that all key organisations which support the drive to tackle sectarianism and religious intolerance have access to government.

Social Work

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the gender imbalance in local authority social work services in local authorities, where the majority are women.

Adam Ingram: It is for social work service providers to make sure that their workforce is diverse and representative of the Scottish population and in line with equality legislation, to ensure that employment practices are not discriminatory.

  A Scottish Government working group is currently looking at what can be done to tackle the causes of gender imbalances in the workplace. It will report to ministers in 2008. We are also working with employers to address recruitment and retention priorities within social work services.

Supporting People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to address the shortfalls identified by its research on the Supporting People programme.

Stewart Maxwell: This will be considered in the current spending review

Tourism

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has conducted with the tourist industry in Fife on its proposal to align VisitScotland areas around the six enterprise network regions.

Jim Mather: The reforms of the enterprise networks and VisitScotland that we announced recently were welcomed by representatives of the tourism industry. The realignment of the VisitScotland areas to match those of the new enterprise network regions aims to increase the effectiveness of partnership working with the enterprise network alongside tourism businesses with the potential to grow, and thus to release resources to deliver more locally. VisitScotland will be discussing how the realignment can best be implemented and will be engaging locally with representatives of the tourist industry and local authorities on proposals to take this forward.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4139 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 September 2007, whether it is possible to identify what incidences of poisoning there have been where poisoning was not the main offence.

Kenny MacAskill: It is not possible to identify incidences of poisoning where poisoning was not the main offence from the data held centrally.